Cross-border collaboration: AUSMAT’s role in Japan’s earthquake exercise
20 Mar 2025
Written by Kathleen McDermott
In the aftermath of natural disasters, rapid deployment of medical teams is crucial to saving lives and minimising the long-term health impacts. Recognising this, AUSMAT participated in Japan’s 2025 Joint Training of Japan Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) and International Disaster Medical Teams Large-Scale Earthquake Medical Team Operations.
This large-scale exercise simulated earthquake response operations, providing AUSMAT and other international teams an opportunity to collaborate, enhance their capabilities and strengthen their understanding of disaster medical operations.
The purpose of the joint exercise
The primary goal was to simulate a scenario where international medical teams deploy to Japan to assist during a large-scale earthquake. The exercise aimed to refine coordination efforts, ensuring a timely, effective and well-organised response to disasters that could overwhelm local resources.
This exercise was designed to address several key objectives:
Enhancing coordination:
Effective collaboration and coordination between local and international teams is crucial in disaster response. Effective communication between various national teams and local authorities can significantly improve the speed and efficacy of medical interventions. This included governance and regulatory issues such as authority to practice for international medical teams.
Improving operational efficiency:
The exercise tested how teams could manage resources, deploy medical staff, import medicines and medical equipment and provide care in an environment where infrastructure may be damaged or destroyed. It also emphasised the need for flexibility in adapting to changing conditions on the ground.
Understanding regional challenges:
Each country faces unique challenges. AUSMAT gained valuable insights into Japan's healthcare system, disaster preparedness strategies, local health care systems and governance.
Building relationships:
Trust between teams is essential for seamless operations. The exercise fostered international collaboration strengthening professional networks for future joint operations.
AUSMAT’s role and contributions
The exercise was held over five days, from 24-28 February 2025.
The exercise included:
• A tabletop exercise in Tokyo (Day 1)
• A two-day field drill in Shizuoka (Days 2–3)
• A one-day after-action review (Day 4)
AUSMAT’s nine-member team included logisticians, doctors and nurses, each assigned key roles:
Mission Team Lead:
Dr. Alexander Swann
Nurse Clinical Lead:
Jacintha Pickles
Medical Clinical Lead:
Dr. Jorian Kippax
Logistics Team Lead:
David Small
Team Mentor:
Ben Schmidt
Team Members:
Dr. Michelle Withers, Dr. Nia Owens, Nurses Paul Cambell and Jacqueline Elia.
Additionally, Kath McDermott and Dr Tudor Codreanu participated in the Japanese Exercise Evaluator team.
AUSMAT operated as an Emergency Medical Team (EMT) 2, while Taiwan functioned as EMT 1. A key aspect of the exercise involved Japanese clinicians from Shizuoka Hospital embedding within AUSMAT, enhancing cross-team integration. AUSMAT’s role included receiving and transferring patients, making ethical patient care decisions, and caring for vulnerable children, allowing the team to test response strategies in collaboration with Japanese authorities.
Key learnings from the exercise
The exercise provided invaluable lessons that will refine AUSMAT’s future disaster response efforts:
Improved communication systems:
Standardised communication protocols are essential for seamless coordination across teams, particularly when facing language barriers and differing technological platforms. Establishing a robust communication infrastructure early is key.
Flexibility in resource management:
Disaster response often involves severe resource constraints. AUSMAT practiced prioritising patients, making rapid treatment decisions, and optimising available resources.
Cultural sensitivity and team dynamics:
Understanding different medical practices, working styles, and cultural considerations improves efficiency in multi-national operations.
Cold weather uniform consideration:
AUSMAT rarely deploys in cold weather. The exercise highlighted the need for better identification measures, such as labelled vests similar to those used by Japan. Participating in this joint earthquake response exercise allowed AUSMAT to hone its skills, broaden its expertise, and build stronger international relationships. By simulating a real-world large-scale disaster, the team refined its strategies and reinforced the importance of cross-border cooperation, adaptability, and effective communication in disaster medicine.